Deformation Response of an Existing Tunnel to Upper Excavation of Foundation Pit and Associated Dewatering

Abstract

Deep excavation clearly impacts existing underlying subway tunnels and threatens their operational safety. The prediction of existing tunnel deformation induced by nearby excavation is a major concern for urban construction. This research presents an analytical calculation method for predicting tunnel deformation induced by upside excavation and also discusses the role of dewatering in the deformation mechanism. First, the existing tunnel is assumed to be nonexistent in the soil, and the vertical unloading stress at the location of the existing tunnel caused by the upper excavation and associated dewatering is calculated. Second, the existing underlying tunnel is simplified as an elastic beam on a Pasternak foundation to calculate its vertical deformation. The proposed method was verified by the good agreement found between the predictions and the field measurements of the construction in the Shenzhen Chegongmiao hub project. Such an analytical method can provide fast and accurate evaluation results for similar engineering projects.